A public meeting, convened by Sean Crudden, was held in Ballymascanlon Hotel on Monday 13 June 1994 to establish an action group in the Cooley area to oppose Thorp/Sellafield. Among the attendance at that meeting were Dr Mary Allen, Mr Stephen Smith and Mr Paddy Martin of The Armagh/Louth Environmental and Research Group (now defunct?). Mr Stephen Smith coined the name on the night of the meeting and the Cooley Environmental and Health Group was set up with Alan Mullen as Chairman. The minute book of Cooley Environmental and Health group contains a record of much interesting discussion on environmental matters in the ensuing year. The topics covered are still very relevant today and many of the issues raised are still unresolved.

A private seminar was organised by the Group on cancer statistics and held in Ballymascanlon Hotel on Sunday 7 May 1995. The speakers that afternoon were Dr Andrew McDonald; Dr Harry Comber, Director of the National Cancer Registry; Dr Mary Allen; Dr Gavin, Director of the NI Cancer Registry (who came unbidden and unheralded); and finally Sally Cook, Medical Geographer from the University of Ulster. Politicians in attendance included Nuala Ahern MEP, Patricia McKenna MEP, and the late lamented Micheal O’Donnell MCC.

In the late 90’s connections were made with Dr D G Pringle, Department of Geography, NUI Maynooth and he presented two separate reports on cancer mortality in County Louth to the Cooley Environmental and Health Group. (An accurate summary of these reports appeared in the Dundalk Democrat last year - 2001 - and also previously at the time of the last local elections). The connection with Dr Pringle is a live one and the group expects to hear more from him in the next year or two.

By a cruel twist of fate the much loved Chairman of Cooley Environmental and Health Group, Alan Mullen, developed cancer of the oesophagus, and died on 25 May 1999 - the exact 42nd anniversary of his birth on 25 May 1957.

After a respectful hiatus in the Group’s activity Brian Brennan was appointed Chairman on 22 November 1999 and he continued in that role until he resigned and was replaced by Arthur Morgan MCC (now TD) on 14 January 2001.

Regular public monthly meetings have continued apace all through these periods and right up to the present time. The meetings take place in Ballymascanlon Hotel on a Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. They receive generous coverage from LMFM and the Dundalk Democrat.

Feature event in 2001 was a Winter Workshop on Safety held in Bush Post-Primary School on Saturday afternoon 27 January. Dr Brian Donlevy, Director of the Chemistry Department, DKIT, was the principal guest speaker and he dealt with all aspects of farm safety. Other experts dealt with fire safety, food safety, road safety and safety in contact sport. This workshop was facilitated by Sean Crudden, Treasurer of Cooley Environmental and Health Group.


Another highlight of the year was the visit of Pippa Morrison, Marine Conservation Manager, Ulster Wildlife Trust and The World Wildlife Fund, to the Group’s ordinary public meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday 20 May in Ballymascanlon Hotel. This visit was organised by Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes OMD PhD, who has been the enthusiastic and most capable secretary of the Group since 22 November 1999.

Despite its origins the group has never become involved in "street politics" or campaigning. Although it is strictly a non-expert group it attempts to adopt a scientific or academic approach to its business.

Among bodies that Cooley Environmental and Health Group have dealt with are The National Cancer Registry, The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, The Environmental Protection Agency, Louth County Council’s Environmental Department, The Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD and her Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, The Department of Public Enterprise and The Department of Agriculture.

Cooley Environmental and Health Group maintains continuous and ongoing links with Louth LEADER as well as The Local Area Forum organised by Louth County Council as an extension of democracy into lower divisions of local government.

The Group has been discussing for a number of years past the promotion of handball in Cooley but, so far, have failed to make much material progress with it.

Cooley Environmental and Health Group received sponsorship from FYFFES and assistance from Louth County Enterprise Board for their Winter Workshop on Energy which was held in Bush Post-Primary School on Saturday 26 January 2002. Speakers/participants in this Workshop were Very Rev Canon Gerard McGreevey, Professor Emeritus of Experimental Physics, NUI Maynooth: Aidan McCarron, ESB: Michael Corrigan, Senior Geography teacher, O’Fiaich College: Larry Staudt, Chartered Engineer, School of Engineering, DKIT. Issues from world distribution of carboniferous fuel resources, to nuclear energy, alternative and renewable energy and the opening up of the Irish market for competition in the supply of electricity were dealt with in a mini marathon session that lasted over 5 hours and which started at 2.00 p.m. sharp.

Monthly meetings of the Group which had been held in Ballymascanlon Hotel since 1994 were transferred to The Strand Hotel in Omeath in the Autumn of 2002. All meetings of Cooley Environmental and Health Group are advertised to the public through the local press and radio and anyone interested is free to attend.

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Cooley Environmental & Health Group (CEHG): Constitution

Mission Statement

Cooley Environmental and Health Group which was founded in 1994 as an action group to oppose Sellafield and get it shut down. In the intervening years the Group diversified spreading its wings and as a result has become more research orientated and has developed links with Dr Dennis Pringle in the Department of Geography in NUI Maynooth.

Besides cancer other issues which the Group has touched on are Safety, Energy, Waste Disposal and Personal Energy. It is well recognised now by the Group that that environmental and Health problems can no longer be seen in isolation therefore a solution has to view often from a global perspective. What happens in Ireland and elsewhere have spread affects as pollution is not a stable process due to the atmosphere making pollution a very mobile source as a result an accident at Chernobyl will have an impact on the world atmosphere travelling to many parts of the globe aided by the winds and rain as a result contaminating the atmosphere.

The Group has held Workshops in the month of January in the years 2001, 2002, and 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. In 2007 the theme for the workshop was “Urban Sprawl”! In 2008 Anti-Social Behaviour is proving a very topical theme. The word Cooley refers to the Cooley Peninsula and its hinterlands which span to areas in both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland taking in Counties Louth, Armagh, Down and the Irish Sea. As well health concerns us all more on a global level as we have become a multicultural society due to the world‘s population becoming more mobile as a result of developing political structures.


Our aim is:

To protect and research better ways of making the environment and health better for all within the confines and boundaries of the Cooley Peninsula and world environment in general!


Objectives:

To develop awareness of reducing waste and pollution

Promote ways of solving issues of environmental & health concern

Preserve rights of respective members

Preserve the environment especially the Cooley Peninsula and surrounding areas by making the populous aware of environmental & health problems

Assist members in making our area a better place for healthy living

Allow our members at various levels both horizontal and vertical a voice in environmental protection

Membership:

The association shall be non political & non sectarian, with membership open to all citizens of Ireland both north & south. Members may be required to pay a fee as the committee shall determine from time to time.

Finance:

Funds of the association may be obtained through member’s subscriptions, grants, private and /or public donations, or any fund raising activities that the committee may deem acceptable or necessary. The funds shall be lodged in a bank account approved by the committee. The Treasurer will be responsible for managing the financial affairs of the association. The Secretary and either Chairman shall sign all cheques with the Treasurer. Annual statements of accounts must be produced at the AGM properly audited by two auditors who are not members of the executive committee elected at the AGM. Financial year the 1st of January to the 31st of December

General Meeting:

The AGM will be held at such time and date the executive committee/management determine, provided that the interval between one AGM and the next does not exceed 15 calendar months and that 15 days notice shall be given to all members of the association via the press or e-mail where appropriate.

The AGM will transact the following business:

Minutes of the previous AGM

Chairpersons report for the year

Treasurers report for the year

Election of 5 + committee members including the officers for the coming year

Discussion on the size of the yearly subscription (if any)

Any further business (AOB)



Special General Meeting (SGM)

The Secretary of the committee at any time at his/her discretion may call a meeting if what he/she thinks requires an SGM. As well, within 21 days of receiving a written request signed by not less than 6 members the Secretary shall convene a SGM.


Amendments to the Constitution:

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed at the AGM. Any such proposals to alter this Constitution must be delivered to the Secretary of the association not less than 14 days notice before the AGM. An alteration will require the approval of a 2 third majority of all those present.


Quorum for Executive/Committee Meetings:

3 members including officers must attend for a meeting to be valid. In the event of Internet being Linkages being developed, a Committee Meeting may be undertaken on line once 3 officers are linked to the Internet Chat System for such meeting.


Dissolution:

The association may be dissolved at any time by a resolution passed by 2 thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the association of which 21 days notice shall be sent to all members of the association. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of assets held by or in the name of the Cooley Environmental & Health Group (CEHG), provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall be given or transferred to such other institution(s) having similar objectives of the association.

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Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes PhD

Secretary CEHG Dated: Tuesday, 10 July 2007.